Matthew Hardy Thomas’ Post

My meet-cute with the tourism industry started with a beach shuttle company. Now, years later, I’m proud to be the CEO of the travel brand I once fell for: Parkbus. Years ago, I started a business that took people from the city to the beach—giving them an easy way to escape and make memories by the water. That was my first taste of the tourism industry. I learned what it takes to run travel experiences people love. I saw the challenges tourism operators face. And how important destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are to their success. Back then, I had a bit of a business crush on Parkbus. While I was bringing beachgoers to the shore, Parkbus was driving nature-seekers to Canada’s stunning parks. The founders of Parkbus — Alex Berlyand and Boris Issaev — were incredibly helpful. They had my back with insights, advice, and the occasional reality check. Their success stuck with me. When the chance came to lead Parkbus, it felt like a natural next step—combining everything I know about the tourism industry. For 15 years Parkbus has helped thousands discover Canada’s national and provincial parks. They've made the outdoors more accessible. Now, my goal is to expand even further. Adding more routes across Canada and into the U.S (stay tuned). My tourism consulting and tech work are still at the core of what I do. Taking on this role lets me put that experience into action. So, If you’re into Canadian travel, tourism, or making nature more accessible in your region, I’d love to connect.